Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-12
BEECHER,s INFLUENCE.
Some OF the People Who Went to


rear Him Preach.
NEW YORK. March 12.--The death OF
Henry Ward Beecher will make consid-
cradle difference around the New York
hotels on Sunday mornings. The average
person who came to New York for the
first time. no matter what might be his
religion Of he had any, would no more
think OF returning home without hearing
Mr.. Beecher than he would neglect seein z
Central Park or the Statue Of Liberty.
Most of these people arose earlier on
Sunday than on any other day In the
week. as it is quite a distance over TO
Brooklyn. and they were always particu-
lar 10 be early at church so as TO secure
seats. For that reason IL was interesting
TO see the call list of some OF the leading
hotels. Men who had not been TO church
since their boyhood went to hear the
great preacher.
II have known visitors to spend Satur-
day night in gambling bells and other
wicked places,' said one OF the clerks OF
the Hoffman House, in speaking OF this
matter, land then sit up for hours, so as
10 be sure TO be in time to hear
Mr.. Beecher. at first 1t used
to strike me as very odd to hear
a man whom l knew to bs sport
and VINO held religion in contempt, talk
ing about going to church. And they
seemed TO take such interest in 1t, too,
and were so particular about being called
in time. When they returned they talk
ed a bout the sermon in sucn a way That
could see that Mr.. Beecher had touched
a tender spot in these hard hearts. ! re-
member tDat this was the case few
years ago with Mike Mcdonald. the ia
mOus Chicago gambler. He mad been out
all night and got in a little before day.
light. He remarked that he had great
desire to hear Mr.. Beecner, and he
had made up his mind to do go
that day; but he knew that il he
should go to bed 1t would be hard
work getting up. For that reason
he sat up and opened several bottles as a
means of killing time. L have known
other such people to be attracted by Mr..
Beecher's eloquence. They would go to
hear him in the same spirit as they would
20 to the theatre; and after doing 80 would
20 to hear some other preacher for the
purpose OF comparison. L have no doubt
but in this wav MIR. Beecher reached a
number of such sinners, many OF whom
be brought to a realization of their moral
condition. L knew another instance
where a man, while seeing New York one
Saturday night by gaslight, got very
much intoxicated. He remembered that
he had made up his mind to hear Mr..
Beecher. lie stopped drinking about
midnight, 80 that he might sober up and
attend Plymouth church next mora
ing. Had il not been for this, no tell
ing to what excuses the man might have
gone"
1t was indeed sight about the hotels
to see the people preparing to go TO
Brooklyn. ltwas great source OF reve-
nIe for the hackmen, and even the bridge
company must have felt the eff ct. There
was always busy scene about the en-
frances OF the Brooklyn bridge, which
were crowded with people hurrying along
in hopes of securing seats. Brooklyn,
which otherwise would have presented a
rather sleepy appearance In the neigh.
h0rhOod OF the bridge, presented an ami
mated one. HARRY WALKER.